Time after Time

In my IMDb persona, I most enjoy finding "bumblebee" movies that is, movies which on paper should have been a dud yet somehow surpassed their own limitations.

On the negative side, this is yet another creation of the Canuck movie machine, from the country that via clever tax planning and a chronically weak currency turned B-movies into a cash cow. The locations are Canadian as are most of the players, except the leads of course.

It is the plus side the ledger that is interesting. First, the movies starts and ends with a quote from Kierkegaard -- you don't see that everyday.

Second when it comes to delving into the paradoxes of time travel - something even the Star Trek franchise agonized over -- these guys had no fear. Maybe it is because they are fearless. Maybe (as with most Canuck films) they were into profit the moment shooting wrapped, so they did not care whether anyone saw ever this or not.

To say the basis for the time juxtaposition here is weak is like saying that President Obama sometimes overlooked the democratic process. There are tropes, edits, cuts, even entire scenes that make little sense.

But through it all, the cast delivers solid performances and, at the end of the day, you know this is just a very brave love story. So if you watch it with your heart and not your brain, it will engage.

In spite of itself.

Unlike most Hallmark love stories, this one is less about the process of the lovers falling in love and more about using time travel to change what is from the story's viewpoint is the future.

We very quickly learn that Dick is really a future version of Richard who has returned to get Richard to correct his mistake of giving up yet again on his true love, Jackie. This isn't going to be easy because Jackie has a boyfriend.

In the usual Romance movie, much of the plot centers around how the potential lovers fall in love with each other. In this movie, the plot centers more around first convincing Richard and then having Richard do what needs to be done to change the future which has more to do with being a journalist than being romantic.

I really dislike time travel movies that are based on changing history as opposed to restoring it. Since the perspective is not so much changing the past as it is changing the future (its all in the viewpoint), that makes this one a little easier to live with. Dick's attempts to convince Richard are intended to be funny, but I found them to be more clumsy writing and acting than funny.

And there was at least at little time spent trying to bring the lovers together again after an 11 year separation. There are a couple of funny moments as Jackie appears more intent on crippling Richard than loving him, but they are really more accidents than intention. There are some warm moments as well.

Unlike most sci-fi, there is very little techno-babble, so both the sci-fi fan, and non-fan, may enjoy this different take on Hallmark romance.

This was a sweet, bit of nothing movie that won't leave any lasting marks about a journalist who quits his job after publishing an unconfirmed article about political corruption that causes the politician in question to commit suicide. "Richard" has a penchant for running away from his problems and this latest turn sees him returning to his hometown after an 11 year absence.

He is immediately hired back at his old job at the local paper where he meets a creepy, stalker dude who turns out to be his future self. Future Richard (AKA Dick) is played by Richard Thomas and the two actors couldn't look more different, but whatever, its a Lifetime movie. Anyways before long Richard also runs into his high school sweetheart and realizes the spark is still there despite her beaning him in the head with a frozen chicken and being engaged to the town Doctor (yawn).

There are some fun twists and turns as future "Dick" remains mysterious and tries to get Richard to turn his life around, stop running away and get the girl because, well, he's been there and knows how it will turn out if he doesn't. There's also a weak sub story regarding preserving the small town image and not allowing big business "Sir Save-A-Lot" in.

A couple things: Richard wears the same leather jacket/clothes for the entire movie, as do most of the cast. His wife also doesn't age in the 20 year gap we are shown. Duncan B.C plays small-town "Glenville" USA. 12/15/14

I thought that this was a decent film; it was gentle, moved at a comfortable pace and gave me a warm feeling. The setting was beautiful, as you would expect of Duncan B.C. and the background score was not intrusive but assisted the atmosphere rather than distracting from it.

The actors were all good and likable characters, even the town doctor who strayed (the unethical behaviour which another reviewer mentioned) with someone who was likely a patient. Richard Thomas has always been that actor who is like the home town boy of the Waltons who we all like. He gives just enough of that boy with the angst of the man who left things undone but finally finds a way to make his biggest mistake right.

Though there are not many surprises there are a few little twists that make the plot work but basically it's a feel good film to give you the warm fuzzies on a cool day under your blankie.

I love Hallmark movies I'm afraid to admit. Most of them wouldn't win any awards, but, are sweet lovely films that do what movies are supposed to do - leaves you entertained and smiling at the end. Most of them you won't remember in a day or two, but, at least they don't leave you numb with shock at the violence, sex or language like big movies do now. So I was looking forward to Time After Time and it didn't disappoint me. It was lovely and gentle and left me smiling. Richard Thomas was marvellous and the ending was rather wonderful. I may not watch this over and over, but, it kept me smiling. Also, the ending of who she went with couldn't have been more obvious as well as what the Doctor did and why the supermarket was no good.